Arenas, Crittenton suspended for remainder of season

NBA Commissioner David Stern today suspended Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and reserve Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Arenas told Stern that he would tell the players' union not to fight the suspension.

"The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere," Stern said in a statement. "It is about possession of guns in the
NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated."

The Washington Wizards released a statement supporting the NBA's decision.

"Both players violated D.C. laws and NBA rules by bringing guns into the locker room," the statement said. "Their poor judgment has also violated the trust of our fans and stands in contrast to everything Abe Pollin stood for throughout his life. It is widely known that Mr. Pollin took the extraordinary step of changing the team name from 'Bullets' to 'Wizards' in 1997 precisely to express his abhorrence of gun violence in our community. We hope that this negative situation can produce something positive by serving as a reminder that gun violence is a serious issue."

Arenas met with Stern at the league offices in New York for nearly an hour on Wednesday afternoon. He was accompanied by his attorney, Ken Wainstein.

The meeting came nearly two weeks after Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge and was expected to provide Stern with the final details before he determined a punishment for Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton, who were involved in a locker room dispute in which guns were displayed at Verizon Center on Dec. 21.

Arenas was suspended indefinitely for his behavior after the incident was first reported, including taking an infamous picture in which he pretended to shoot his teammates with his fingers before a game in Philadelphia on Jan. 5. Arenas has missed the past 12 games while serving the suspension. The Wizards have 38 games remaining, which would put his season total at 50 games.

Arenas's suspension would be the NBA's third-most severe non-drug-related suspension, Ron Artest was suspended 86 games (73 regular season and 13 playoff postseason) for his role in the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in November 2004, and Latrell Sprewell was originally suspended for a full year for attempting to choke then-Golden State Warriors Coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997, but an arbitrator later reduced the suspension to just 68 games.

Before this, the longest suspension for a gun-related offense was seven games, which Stephen Jackson received after pleading guilty to a felony count of criminal recklessness after taking five shots outside of an Indianaplis strip club in 2006.

There has been rampant speculation that the Wizards would try to void Arenas's deal, but multiple sources claim that the team has not discussed that option, although it hadn't been ruled out. A person with knowledge of the Wizards' thinking said that the team would wait until Stern's punishment and Arenas's legal situation were completed before making a decision.

Arenas could face possible jail time, depending on the sentence D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin gives him in six weeks. Prosecutors recommended that Arenas receive no more than six months in prison, although a felony gun charge could result in a maximum five-year sentence.

According to a source, during the meeting between Arenas and Stern, Arenas expressed concern about the possibility of having the remaining four years of his six-year, $111-million contract voided, to which Stern replied, "That would be left up to the team." He also informed Arenas that no member of the Wizards organization has yet made an inquiry about voiding his contract to the NBA's legal department.

Arenas also has intimated to friends, the NBA and legal representatives that he has no desire to play for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld again, according to a person familiar with Arenas's situation.

Arenas faces sentencing on March 26.

On Tuesday, Arenas was fingerprinted and photographed at the Metropolitan Police Department's first district station. The processing was scheduled by agreement between Arenas's lawyer and the police department.

Crittenton spoke with Stern and league investigators on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor possession of a firearm and was sentenced to one-year probation.

If that turns out to be true then you know there is some very bad blood between him and the Franchise. This wont end pretty and it seems that would open it up for the Wiz & Gil to reach a buyout. Lets hope thats just a rumor like most of the stories have been.

Arenas to be suspended for remainder of season

A person familiar with the meeting between Gilbert Arenas and NBA Commissioner David Stern said on Wednesday that the three-time all-star guard requested to be suspended for the remainder of the season and sources said that Stern plans to abide by the appeal. According to the person, Arenas also told Stern that he would tell the players' union not to fight the season. Stern will announce his ruling later this afternoon.

Gil must want nothing more to do with this team with its current make up...they made it rather difficult to return and play this season. Gil will land on his feet and compete for an MVP next year...I know it's a long shot but I hope its here with the Wiz and a new owner and GM!!!

Arenas would be a fool to accept a buyout. The Wizards would be equally foolish to seek one.

We need each other. What top tier player would come here after the way we appear to have treated MJ,Gil,Rip, CWebb, etc?

Unless we can draft and develop a star here, we need him here. He needs us to be able to repair his damaged image.

Ppl love an underdog and will offer him a heroes welcome if he comes back and plays well. All he needs to do is come back, appear contrite, STFU and score 20+ per game. It shouldnt be that hard. Now that he know that WE know about the doodoo in the shoe, etc., he should be on his best behavior because he knows everyone is waiting for him to slip up.

Another round of rehab with Grover won't hurt, either.

Bring him back but recast him as just one of the guys and not the savior like before. It should work out for everyone.

It's probably what the Wizards wanted him to do. Take a year off with no pay, help the team tank for the John Wall sweepstakes. I'd say this does more to repair his relationship to the Wizards than it does to hurt it.

I don't blame Arenas for wanting to bolt from the team, the town, and these fans.

Last night we welcomed Kobe the Rapist to town with a sold out building, and serenaded him with chants of "MVP! MVP!" every time he went to the free throw line. Here's a guy who famously spent a preposterous sum of money to buy a diamond for his wife to apologize for raping another woman, and we're okay with that? But guns used for a prop in a joke? That's nothing short of the worst crime ever.

The pathetic remnants of the Pollin family and this town full of front-running, turncoat "fans" don't deserve a player of Gilbert's talent.

Get ready for another 20 years of failed lottery picks. Karma won't let us get a sniff of the playoffs any time soon.

A sad ending to what I had hoped would be a very exciting situation (Gil with the Wizards).

First the injuries and then this? Who would have guessed when Gil got injured playing Charlotte that that would be pretty much the end of his star in Washington.

I think that when the Wizards stripped his posters from MCI, the writing was on the wall that the team was washing its hands. Considering how long it's been since Gil has played a full season, there's no question his market value is probably a fraction of what they are paying him now. Looking at it from a pure business standpoint you can't blame the team for wanting to bail on the contract. It was starting to make Juwan Howard's former contract with the Bullets the deal of the century. $60 million wasted -- up in smoke -- for three straight years of no-Gil.

I hope Gil turns things around for himself with Orlando or another team, and regains the franchise status he so rightfully earned for himself. He is a work horse, and a true talent -- one of the most exciting players in the league to watch.

I am completely at a loss. To say I understand the mental trappings of Arenas's mind is a large understatement. Why in the world would you cut off your nose to spite your face. I don't care if he doesn't care for Grunfeld, there is no way in hell I would ask to be suspended for the rest of the season and lose millions of dollars. That is total insanity. What next?? Will he ask the judge to throw the book at him and give him the maximun sentence. Is there not anyone in his life that can help this guy out. So much for thinking he has matured. He is still making stupid emotional decisions. Yikes! I am too through!

This is a smart move from a PR standpoint that may help avoid jail time. Gil can now sit out the year and see where things are next year. He's basically telling Ted or the next owner that they can pick him or Grunfeld.

Of course, it is odd that he asked about voiding the deal--he would be foolish to do so since NOBODY will pay him that much now.

Do not act like a hurt dog who was crossed by a team who does not have your back. Good Bye and good luck, it was fun while you where...well at least the first few years where fun.

Void this contract and drop Gilbert like a bad habit. The Wizards do not owe Gilbert anything. He should be paying us back the $22 million he cost the team the past 2 seasons. Time for both parties to move on.

The comments here are nothing short of stupid. Over the last few weeks everyone was screaming for Gilbert to be chased out of town and for the Wizards to void his contract. Now people are casting him as the victim in this situation and the Wizards and Ernie Grunfeld as the bad guys.

The simple fact of the matter is that Gilber brought MULTIPLE GUNS into the locker room. This on top of all the childish behavior such as crapping in Andrae Blatche's shoe as a joke, etc, etc, etc.

His actions here, asking to be suspended, taking his punishment like a man are what he SHOULD be doing. He should also go to jail for several months for this.

He has set a horrible example and put his teammates in danger in a city plauged by gun violence no less.

The Wizards have done everything they should have as well. They should be turning their back to him and they should get him off of this team and out of this town regardless if it sets us back salary cap wise or not.

The ONLY thing Gilbert deserves is a fresh start once he has served his time (suspension and whatever the courts give him). Hopefully he will have learned his lesson and will focus his energy on his basketball talents.

As for Ernie Grunfeld, the guy is a good GM. He turned ths team into a winnner and made a number of very smart deals.

The only reason HE resigned Gilbert and Antwan was because Abe Polin wanted him to.

I think he could just want out now because he feels betrayed and I dont think he likes Flip's Offense all that much anyways, lol. I could see him trying to negotiate like a 30mil buyout or something and we save 50 or whatever, plus what we didnt have to pay him for him missing all these games this year. He also took 16mil less so I guess he figures that he will have payed up if they give him 30. He can then take that 30 and sign a 1yr 10mil deal with some team next year and if he plays great then he will get a big contract the following season and more than make up for what he lost. Thats a long ways away though so Ill just wait for official word

Ok this dude is more of an idiot than I thought. Why would you try to prevent the players' association from fighting for you? Maybe you don't want to play for the rest of the season; maybe you want your contract voided because you hate Ernie; But the players' association will not allow your case to set a bad precedent. A season-long suspension is way too much for what went down.

"As for Ernie Grunfeld, the guy is a good GM. He turned ths team into a winnner and made a number of very smart deals."

Sure, the team was a lot better than it had been for a few years, due in large part to Gilbert! There was one year (two years ago) when they got to the playoffs without him. Last year was a disaster (no Gil), this year is a disaster (some Gil, worse w/o him).

Grunfeld can't coast on the past performance b/c his most recent two years (assuming this year continues on its downward spiral) have stunk worse than Andre Blatche's shoes!

Anyway, I don't understand players like Arenas that expect the team to stand behind them. When your own father says "nobody is bigger than the franchise"...you can't blame Ernie for doing *everything* to limit the Wizards exposure in this mess.

i hear you sir-bryc3,GOOD COMMENT MAN, I FEEL YOU
YOU SAID IT RIGHT SIR.the wizards suck esp.without gil in the line up,this team wont win more than 25 games this year,fans lastnight were treating kobe like he is playing at home and we bash our own guy gil for bringing unloaded guns in the locker room,hope gil is wiser now,can rehab his knee and come back play ball for whomever will pay him

One thing we know for sure - The Washington Post went along with the absurd cover story about Arenas bringing guns to work to keep them away from his daughter while the NY Post conducted real journalism and got the major points of the story right.

I think what they mean by Gilbert asking about the possibility of having his contract voided is: Was it a possibility that the Wizards could void his contract. I don't think he was asking if he himself could void the contract.

Assuming Gil is gone (and a franchise salary is available for someone else), who could the Wizards lure to Washington?

I think there are a lot of great free agents up next year, though I doubt any of the major ones would ever consider coming here.

I do hope Ted Leonsis brings a new sense of urgency to winning to this team that has been missing, and is willing to do whatever it takes to put a contender together. I think if that kind of impression could be made, some of the stars might consider coming here, in the same way they consider Dallas.

Anyway, I don't understand players like Arenas that expect the team to stand behind them. When your own father says "nobody is bigger than the franchise"...you can't blame Ernie for doing *everything* to limit the Wizards exposure in this mess.

Posted by: tundey | January 27, 2010 3:37 PM | Report abuse

Tundey, that is a great quote and Gil's father is exactly correct. However, the team's public reaction to this incident was so over-the-top that it just added to a history of mistreating players. They've harmed their brand by not even paying lip service to say we stand behind Gil and we'll be here for him. You can't expect any player to want to come or stay here if the organization will not support you in your time of need.

Fans want to see the team win and if winning means having to stand behind Gil than they should have done it. I think Michael Irvin said it best to whoever that was threatening him to go public about his drug use or something. He said something like you can expose me, but you'll be the one in jail and the only thing I need to do is catch another touchdown and they'll be cheering me. If the team wins fans will forgive Gil.

This is the first smart move GA has made and, importantly, involves planning more than a day in advance. The man is not starving. He can spare the money this year, easily afford to void the contract, sign elsewhere for a one year contract for reasonable money and regain status and value with a new team by staying out of trouble. BUT FIRST, he needs to make amends with the league (CBA violation), position himself as a responsible person for the court hearing (remember this is his second gun charge), and get himself out of the media spotlight between now and his court date. This does it all, my friends. I'd hire his lawyer if I was in trouble!

"Gil must want nothing more to do with this team with its current make up...they made it rather difficult to return and play this season. Gil will land on his feet and compete for an MVP next year...I know it's a long shot but I hope its here with the Wiz and a new owner and GM!!!

--------------------------------------------
It was interesting to find out that people still do LSD. Arenas MVP? What a joke. He does not have the psychological make up to be anything approaching an MVP. He is a joke. Who in the hell would want him on their team? I wouldn't. I would not be able to count on him. This suspension means he has missed 3 seasons and been paid a lot of money for nothing. I do not wish Arenas well, I don't wish him ill either. I just wish he would go away.

"People need to understand throughout this process that whatever Arenas faces from the NBA has absolutely no none zero zilch impact on what he's going to get from the criminal court system."

Uhhh, no, actually it does. The judge has sentencing guidelines and the prosecutors have recomended a sentencing range based on the plea agreement with Arenas. But the judge still makes the ultimate decision. If he pulls finger guns or craps in someone's shoes b/t now and the sentencing date, that would absolutely have an impact. By the same token, showing contrition and accepting responsibility, by accepting the suspension, will reflect favorably on Gil.

@33dgriffin: If you did something so egregious at work and continued to make fun of the legal and professional implications publicly, do you think your employer will support you or even pay lip service to supporting you? If Gilbert had shown (or faked) real remorse and contrition immediately afterwards, this whole process would have played out like Delonte West's. Instead Gilbert made a mockery of the charges, of his own formal apologies and totally made light of a bad situation. One that put the team in a very public negative light. You really think any organization would have supported such a player? You think the Lakers would have supported Kobe if he had tweeted about his sexual assault charges? If he had pantomimed sex during pre-game warmups? Gilbert brought this who shebang on his head.

And he's still being a stupid idiot. Why would you ask to be suspended for the season? So stupid and petulant.

If Gilbert wishes to turn his back on the people that have support him all along so be it.

Get him on the first train out of town. I am tired of the Circus. Because truthfully in the end he is not worth $110 million. And I am not going to feel sorry for someone that has been catered to and been handle with kids boxing gloves since he soooo sensitive. One minute he stealing someone rims or crapping in their shoes the next the GM is being mean to him.

GET OUT, you quit on the City and your teammates by request a season long suspension.

Oh, and Grunfeld stupidly passed on DuJuan Blair, a banger and rebounding machine...but I guess it's not like the Wiz need anything like that these days...

Posted by: herb6
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Blair went in the second round which means every single NBA team including the team that eventually drafted him "stupidly" passed on Blair. And why did they pass on him? Oh right he doesn't have ANY ACL. To draft someone in the 1st round (which is the round where contracts are guaranteed) without ACLs would be the very definition of "stupidity". At least in the second round the contracts are not guarnateed.

@33dgriffin: If you did something so egregious at work and continued to make fun of the legal and professional implications publicly, do you think your employer will support you or even pay lip service to supporting you? If Gilbert had shown (or faked) real remorse and contrition immediately afterwards, this whole process would have played out like Delonte West's. Instead Gilbert made a mockery of the charges, of his own formal apologies...

Posted by: tundey | January 27, 2010 4:04 PM | Report abuse

My job doesn't have $111 million invested in me and it doesn't depend sometimes on convincing 20-25 year old young men to come in and play for my team. Michael Lee has already reported that players and agents are watching and not approving of their treatment of Gil. That equals to no top notch players coming to DC and 10 years of losing for this team. What would you rather have.

People have to try and understand this whole thing from the Gilbertology point of view. He is not now and never has been a businessman. He is a charming but clearly quirky fellow on some type of bizarre internal quest. I doubt that any of his decisions have ever been made based solely or even mostly on money. He doesn't want to be known as the guy that was a bust of a $111 million. His whole thing is tied to being able to play to prove what he has to prove.

I wouldn't doubt at all that he might be willing to simply walk away from his contract with the Wiz. He has made a ton of money and if he truly gets his act together, he'll make more. HE PROPOSED the suspension with the offer to not contest it. That offer is too good to be true for Stern. He gets to mete out a tough sentence and nobody fights it. Gil is now cleared - NBA wise to play next year.

Gil signals the possibility of voiding the remaining years on his deal. That would also make it possible to get back to playing sooner rather than later. If the Wiz void his contract and he fights it - he loses his most precious commodity - time. If he ends up losing the contract voiding case after 18 months - he's lost that time and he would have been better off just voiding it now and then being able to play next season.

Even if he wins an ultimate "voiding" litigation all he gets is money, not a chance to play right away. Either way he stays in limbo until after the litigation. If he wins an ultimate court fight, then there is the protracted battle to keep him, trade him, buy him out etc. which keeps him out of play for even longer.

If you understand that the only way for Gilbert to be relevant is to play - you can see why he might choose this path. Maybe 100 of 100 people on this board would say they'd fight to force the Wiz to pay them every possible penny. Understand Gilbert lives somewhere outside of that 100 of a 100.

GA will never play in the NBA again. Not because he couldn't, but because he doesn't want to. He is obviously soft in the head. He's been dissed by the Wizards, the league, etc., and he can't deal with that. I wonder how deep he'll sink--it won't be pretty.

gilbert arenas is a child, plain and simple. how he can look back at this situation and remain upset that the organization that took such a big chance on him while he was injured (i.e. mortgaged its future) wouldn't bail him out after a stupid, immature prank? for all that is holy, gilbert, stand up as a man and take responsibility for what you did. true, no one was at risk of getting hurt, but it (and your reaction to it) was embarrassingly juvenile and you were in the wrong.

This blowhard's career is finished. He sees the writing on the wall and doing his best to make a bad situation better for him and the NBA.

If he's able to resurrect his career with another team, all the best to him. Yes, my gut instinct was to throw him in jail and throw away the key. I don't apologize for that since his actions weren't only childish but dangerous too.

Who in their right minds brandishes a gun in a locker room? Can't say I've ever seen that, but I'm not from the hood either.

What's the saying?

You can remove the thug from the hood, but you can't remove the hood from the thug.

Blame it all on Arenas for sure, the Wizards share no fault in this eventuality, signing a multi-year, north-of-100M contract with a guy they didn't have enough understanding of, and then want to bail on, is just awful luck...

Arenas also has intimated to friends, the NBA and legal representatives that he has no desire to play for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld again, according to a person familiar with Arenas's situation.

That was a lowdown, dirty trick Grunfeld played on Arenas by convincing him that it would be both funny and legal to bring four firearms into the locker room and then fan the flames of public outrage by making "air guns" on court in front of the cameras.
It's clear to me that Arenas still has the mentality of a child who has been over-indulged.

Until identified people come forward with actual information, this article is pure gossip and speculation. The Post aught to be embarrassed to print such malarkey. Besides, who cares??? A story about another multi-millionaire athlete running afoul of the law or of moral principles is not news anymore. This kind of media frenzy serves only to increase the box office draw and salary of the athlete when he returns to his game. Let's face it, athletes are not role models anymore. They are just people who have developed extraordinary skills. Professional sport is nothing more than entertainment performed by well paid professional actors on a highly visible stage which produces billions of dollars in revenue for wealthy business owners. The fact that the public buys into these performances by attending games, purchasing and wearing associated sports apparel, and mindlessly idolizing certain players does not automatically allow public access into these players' personal lives. What these athletes owe is their performance in the arena. If they violate the terms of their players' contracts, it then is a personnel problem with management. What happens is that the media exploits bad behaviors in order to sell more products, i.e., newspapers, magazines, TV and radio time, with sensational headlines and stories from "anonymous sources," which feed the sensationalism from talking heads and keyboard fingers. These stories serve no purpose, for as one story dies another one pops up, and foolishness from all sides starts all over again. This brings me back to my original question, "Who cares?"

Arenas also has intimated to friends, the NBA and legal representatives that he has no desire to play for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld again, according to a person familiar with Arenas's situation.

Presidential candidate and former Senator John Edwards reportedly blamed his aides for not telling him to "stop ****ing that girl."

This is very curious. Did he ask what the chances are that the Wiz could void his deal? Or did he ask whether the league/he could void the deal? If he wants out of the deal, then he can out of the deal assuming the Wizards want out of it.

And for those of us who think having Gil isn't such a bad thing, there is even a better alternative: If EG is gone, then maybe Gil renegotiates his contract for less money, thereby allowing the Wiz to be bigger players in the free agent market. This would be a brilliant move on his part. He would ingratiate himself with the fans by playing for less money than he would otherwise be owed while at the same time allowing the team to improve itself.

"What top tier player would come here after the way we appear to have treated MJ,Gil, Rip, CWebb, etc?"

Well MJ and Gil, just to name two.

And I don't get this who wants to come here after the way they treated Gil' business. Who would want to come to a team WITH Gil, who threatens to shoot colleagues in the face, poops in their shoes, steals their tires, brings guns into the locker room and, to top it all, is a prima-donna ball hog on the O end and lets other players cover for him on D?

I agree to the mommish-poppishness of the Wiz franchise, the lousy work of the trainers, perpetual injuries, the lackadaisical approach to Gil's rehab for example. But Leonsis is a helluva guy, down-to-earth, approachable, passionate, not afraid to aggressively spend on the right player, etc. He is Mark Cuban without the meddling, boorishness and scrapes with Johnny Law. This will be a new franchise when (if) he takes over, players will want to come here and all will be forgotten. It would be somewhat better, however, if the Pollins would try to void Gil's deal now so the stink of the affair doesn't rub off on Leonsis.

Gilbert still has ability. Ernie has none. He made a title run only when he had Patrick Ewing and MSG's cash backing him up. Google him, you'll find a poll of NBA types listed EG as middle of the pack, back then.

EG's a proven loser, hasn't won anything. Same with Flip. These aren't the guys you have in place if you're really trying to win, these are guys who will hold the job down for not much money.

When Gil leaves, someone will sign him. WHen Ernie leaves, he'll never get another GM gig in the NBA, count on it.

By the way, as ESPN.com pointed out last week, guns in the locker room is specifically covered in the CBA and penalties specified. Voiding a contract is not contemplated. If you covered the subject and excluded a punishment, you cannot then avail yourself of the excluded punishment. The contract will not be voided. Wiz could try (and it looks like/I doubt that they will) but they'll lose.

Hes going to miss most of the games for a third year in a row and he has a problem with wizards management? Abe Pollin who was antigun dies and soon thereafter he brings a gun to the locker room? What a stupid POS scumbag Gibert is.

some seem to think that this was a calculated move for Gil to sit back & wait to see if the Franchise fires EG. Gil's wording leads people to believe its more just about him hating EG than him definitely wanting out

More insanity from Agent Zero IQ. Who asks to be suspended? It shouldn't come as a surprise that Hibachi's drawing a line in the sand between himself and Grunfeld. Arenas thinks he has the power and that the team will fire EG in deference to this ass-clown. What a disaster Arenas has become for this organization.

Well...again Gilbert in his immature thinking has apparently sealed his fate as far as jail time. Again, he is blaming the Wizards hierarchy/organization for the stupid decision he made to play a joke. Any judge getting ahold of his blaming the Wizards again will only deduct that he's missed the point again. THE WIZARDS DID NOTHING WRONG, ASIDE FROM PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM THIS STUPIDITY. Get real, Gil...one time.

I don't know a whole lot about what went into Arenas's thinking but you can bet on this: AFTER THE WIZARDS TRADE HIS RIGHTS, HIS NEW TEAM WILL BE MUCH, MUCH BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS!!!

THE WIZARDS ARE CLEARLY A CURSED FRANCHISE. They are gonna dump all their players to new teams, and the Wiz fans will have to suffer through another 5-8 year REBUILDING effort. Seems like their whole existence has been a rebuilding effort. They are CURSED!!!!

Not that anyone cares, but I just want to clarify the comments above attributed to Barno are not mine. OGBarno is some loser who stole my handle about 2 years ago and has been impersonating me ever since.

National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement today:

“The NBA has conducted a thorough investigation of events relating to this matter.

“It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team’s flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and – with other players and team personnel present or nearby – displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute. The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person.

“The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one’s home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.

“I have met separately with Mr. Arenas and with Mr. Crittenton. Both have expressed remorse for their actions and an understanding of the seriousness of their transgressions. Both have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others. I accept fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret and intent to create something positive from this incident.

“Nevertheless, there is no justification for their conduct. Accordingly, I am today converting Mr. Arenas’ indefinite suspension without pay to a suspension without pay for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, and am also suspending Mr. Crittenton without pay, effective immediately, for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.”

The Washington Wizards issued the following statement today:

“The NBA announced today that they have suspended Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season. We understand and fully support their decision.

Both players violated D.C. laws and NBA rules by bringing guns into the locker room. Their poor judgment has also violated the trust of our fans and stands in contrast to everything Abe Pollin stood for throughout his life. It is widely known that Mr. Pollin took the extraordinary step of changing the team name from “Bullets” to “Wizards” in 1997 precisely to express his abhorrence of gun violence in our community. We hope that this negative situation can produce something positive by serving as a reminder that gun violence is a serious issue.

We look forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind us and once again focusing our full attention on playing exciting basketball in front of our great fans at Verizon Center.”

Wiz tryin to wait until sale of team is finalized. Then new ownership would have to deal with him.

if Leonsis get squad. . . i dont know he may gut and re-establish. hopefully as the Bullets with old colors and new uni's.

dont cry for Gil! 'nother squad will pick'em up in heartbeat prob @ salary reduc and he'll ending win'in 'ship somewhere else like a lot of those who left here once b'for. if not he can always go to europa they'll be accepting.

or he can join the Starbury tour, complete with Panda Experience(feat Tai Shan and some chick panda along for the ride), w/special appearances by Yao Ming.

If Arenas will not play for the Wizards if Grunfeld is the Gm then he can ask for his release or he can sit out next yr.Wizards need to start over with out this clown.He is a bad seed and always will be.

Gilbert is an idiot and Grunfield is done once the new ownership comes in. You can't sign a dude to a max contract with a bad knee, have him play 50 games over three years, and keep your job. Gilbert will get stuck with another sorry team unless he is a role player. He is not top 15 in the league with his sorry FG percentage, TO ratio, and lack of D.

Arenas also has intimated to friends, the NBA and legal representatives that he has no desire to play for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld again, according to a person familiar with Arenas's situation.

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I pose one question for all the Gil HATERS... What if Ernie is the fool who wanted Gil to lie about the guns in the first place?? What if Ernie gave Gil the "kids" statement?? What if Gil just wanted to tell the truth from the beginning before the police were involved??

I still think Ernie played a part in this situation, but then backed away when the police got involved & left him out to dry...

Also, for all of you that think this punishment is too light... You have to look at the precedent set by this SORRY COMMISSIONER... Gilbert Arenas should of gotten no more than a 6 game suspension!! David Stern gave Stephen Jackson 7 games for firing 5 bullets... a little over 1 game for each murder he could of committed...

Best news I've heard all day. Showing up on the job with a gun should have dire consequences.

Now let's hope the same holds true in Louisiana for a crew of serious Q-ball idiots attempting to break federal laws.

When you go to work with a gun or try to wiretap a federal office you're entire life should be turned upside down, taking everything you've worked for and built down to zero. We've gotten way far away from this for high profile individuals in this country.

Arenas also has intimated to friends, the NBA and legal representatives that he has no desire to play for Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld again, according to a person familiar with Arenas's situation.

Why would you want to play for a guy who signed you when you were hurt?

What if Ernie is the fool who wanted Gil to lie about the guns in the first place?? What if Ernie gave Gil the "kids" statement?? What if Gil just wanted to tell the truth from the beginning before the police were involved??

Wouldn't change a thing in terms of Gil behaving stupidly and jeopardizing his career. Most people would be fired from their jobs for comitting a similar act, not merely suspended.
Gil brought FOUR guns to work to (I'm being charitable) "prank" a co-worker.
As far as the "what if" game goes, what if both players actually had loaded guns but nobody could prove? What if they're actually getting off easy?

Before you chumps also blame him for the poor season, remember that if/when he doesn't come back because his contract is voided... he will have saved this ailing franchise. Best wishes Gil. You were too good for the dim witties in this 2 bit town.

Saint Gil - He of Pure Motives!

All of this was done with the end game of having his contract voided in mind.

Mr. Arenas, You are a PROFESSIONAL. Take the hits (that keep on coming). Send a note to everyone that you're moving on. IF there are any managers out there they'll let you know.
Keep talking for YOURSELF :)

"I don't blame Arenas for wanting to bolt from the team, the town, and these fans.

Last night we welcomed Kobe the Rapist to town with a sold out building, and serenaded him with chants of "MVP! MVP!" every time he went to the free throw line. Here's a guy who famously spent a preposterous sum of money to buy a diamond for his wife to apologize for raping another woman, and we're okay with that? But guns used for a prop in a joke? That's nothing short of the worst crime ever.

The pathetic remnants of the Pollin family and this town full of front-running, turncoat "fans" don't deserve a player of Gilbert's talent.

Get ready for another 20 years of failed lottery picks. Karma won't let us get a sniff of the playoffs any time soon.

Posted by: bryc3 | January 27, 2010 3:15 PM | Report abuse "

No matter how much it hurts you, charges against Kobe were dropped.

Unfotunately, Gilby committed a felony...4 counts reallly, and then proceeded to act a fool after trying to turn the locker room into the wild wild west.

BTW, it was reported that Gilby laughed at Critt's small 9mm after he pulled it out, and bragged that if he could offer up those 4 huge weapons to Critt to "pick one," imagine what he had in the trunk of his car.

Gilby took an ill conceived practical joke too far, had no remorse, and now is paying for it.

I thought Arenas might be back after the all star break until his sentencing date was set for late March. Consequently his asking to be suspended for the remainder of the season was a reasonable tactical retreat guaranteeing that Stern wouldn't back the suspension into next season.

It sounds also like Gilbert is expecting some jail time, the result of the prior in California, otherwise he might have been expected to come back this year. The March sentencing date made his reinstatement a non option.

Otherwise I guess we'll never have an answer to that ever diminishing now disappeared but once hopeful prospect, that Arenas, Miller, Butler, Jamison, Haywood as a starting five could have made some noise in the east.

I was joking that the whole reason Gil even brought guns to VC was to ultimately have his contract voided (due to his near-saint status and his fervent desire to "help" the franchise).
Posted by: tgif11 | January 27, 2010 6:03 PM

It's funny how a black man can carry empty guns into a control environment & somehow it's a major crime. Yet a bunch of white people in Richmond near VCU goes into the local 7-11 with sidearms on their hip & the protection of the 2nd amendment.
Interesting.

Naw, what's interesting is how a someone can overlook the fact that Arenas violated a rule his union agreed to and broke a few DC laws as well. He could have been charged with at least FOUR felonies.
Looks like they gave a brother a break, wouldn't you wholeheartedly agree?

Maybe the NRA will step in on the players' behalf. They did so recently in a case where a kid brought a shotgun to school in CA and was thrown out (not suspended mind you) by the principal. The kid's mother complained and after a hearing, the school board reversed the principal and the kid is back in school. The kid is white by the way.

Stern has sent a message loud and clear that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in the NBA. These players are role models for so many youngsters whether they accept that or not just like Tiger Woods, and Mark McGuire were. They all broke that honor and privilege, thus now it is time to take their medicine. Hopefully these players will get picked up by another team and the Wizards can void their contractual obligations to both of these former teammates.
It cannot always be done but in the future for the good of the team the Wizards must select players on the merits of their play on the court as well as their civility off the court. These two Mooks only regret that they are losing out on lots of money so they cannot pay to have their posse of hangers ons and wannabe gangster pals humping their legs for favors and money.

How bout you quit cheating the ppl on your 4/15 filing & doing 15 over the speed limit on the beltway & spend less time worrying about the guns that were never fired. 2nd amendment > local law. Your nohting more than a hypocrite jesus luving dumbass.

I commit no felonies, so your argument is really nothing more than a red herring (as is your name calling). Since it's pretty obvious you're bereft of reasoning/debating skills, here's a hint - Think. Post.

Bottom line: Brother got a break (one is STILL less than four). Be happy!

It would be nice if the Wizards made the playoffs. However they shouldn't because they are going to eventually blow up this lottery team. Whether one sides with Arenas or the Wizards, once it gets to the point of taking sides, it's usually in the best interest of both parties involved to go their separate ways. What's with all the paranoia about players not wanting to play for the Wizards? Players go where the money is and where their agents suggest. A fat contract trumps any of that feel good, how will the organization treat me junk. Players know it's a business and money talks. Loyalty in the NBA,NFL,MLB,and NHL is based on what can you do to make my team a winner. LA backed up Kobe because they knew he was the key to another championship. If Mauberry or Sprewell were truly capable of bringing a championship to their teams, more than likely those teams would have backed them up like LA did Kobe.

Given the union rules, what sort of options do Wash and Arenas have? Short of voiding the contract entirely (why would Arenas or the union accept that?) what kind of buy out is possible? Does anyone here know?

The league saved the Cavs from themselves. It's time for the NBA to look eastward in this regard. No professional sports franchise has been as mismanaged for eons as the Wizards/Bullets have been. Help TL!!!

This is no surprise. But somewhere Simon Gourdine must be shaking his head at the thought that today's players have reneged on their obligation to be ambassadors to the league. It wasn't very long ago that the NBA was thought to be "too black" and "drug infested" to reach the mainstream. To learn more go to http://clicky.me/7lz

This is no surprise. But somewhere Simon Gourdine must be shaking his head at the thought that today's players have reneged on their obligation to be ambassadors to the league. It wasn't very long ago that the NBA was thought to be "too black" and "drug infested" to reach the mainstream. To learn more go to http://clicky.me/7lz

there are factual errors in this story.
1. wiz did not suspend Arenas "once the incident was reported" they suspended Arenas many games later after his shooting dance at the Sixers game.
2. the wiz failed to take any action until the incident was leaked to the media.
Stern needs to penalize Wiz Mgt!

Folks seem obsessed by Gil's stats. He racks up numbers, but his play is weak. His defense is weak. His shot selection has always sucked. He scores a lot, but that is about it.

Saunders is a great coach. Grunfeld performed a miracle in putting together a play-off team out of the utter mess he inherited. Dude should earn a medal for snookering the Lakers into giving us Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. His real mistake is in setting the cornerstone foundation of the franchise on the unstable shoulders of a one-dimensional head case, which admittedly was a big mistake (and one I disfavored at the time).

It is my understanding the NBA contracts under the collective bargaining agreements have standard morals clauses that permit cancellation for improper behavior. The ability to cancel the deal for a felony plea likely turns on exact wording which I am not privy to.